Surgical Drill Display for Real-Time X-Ray Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical professionals face challenges during procedures like IM nailing, where aligning a drill bit with a distal locking hole is difficult due to the need to view both the patient's anatomy and the medical imaging device's display, leading to potential misalignment and complications.
Innovation Solution
A surgical instrument assembly that includes a display mounted to a surgical drill, allowing real-time viewing of fluoroscopic images and providing alignment guidance by displaying the orientation of the drill bit relative to the direction of X-ray travel, ensuring accurate alignment with target locations on the anatomical structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the medical professional views the fluoroscopic display to monitor the drilling process, then real-time image monitoring is improved, but the ability to align the drill bit with the target location deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the monitoring function into two separate displays: the original fluoroscopic display for general anatomical monitoring and a new display mounted on the surgical instrument for drill bit alignment. This segmentation allows the medical professional to view both the overall anatomical context and the precise drill bit position simultaneously without compromising either function.
Solution Approach 2:
The system adds a spatial dimension by mounting a display directly on the surgical instrument handle, creating a third viewing location besides the original fluoroscopic display. This dimensional change enables the medical professional to view the drill bit alignment from a different perspective, directly at the surgical site, while maintaining access to the original anatomical images.
2Manufacturing precision
If the medical professional focuses on aligning the drill bit with the distal locking hole, then drilling accuracy is improved, but the ability to monitor the overall procedure deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the information display into two separate locations: the original fluoroscopic display continues to show the overall anatomical context and procedural progress, while the new display on the surgical instrument shows only the critical drill bit alignment information. This allows the medical professional to maintain awareness of both the big picture and the detailed alignment requirements.
3Ease of operation
If the display is mounted on the surgical instrument, then alignment guidance is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical instrument assembly integrates multiple functions into a single unit: the drill bit, the display device, and the positioning system work together as one integrated assembly. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate alignment tools and procedures, thereby reducing overall system complexity despite adding the display capability.
Data Source
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AI summary
A C-arm, or a mobile intensifier device, is one example of a medical imaging device that is based on X-ray technology. Because a C-arm device can display high-resolution X-ray images in real time, a physician can monitor progress at any time during an operation, and thus can take appropriate actions based on the displayed images. Monitoring the images, however, is often challenging during certain procedures, for instance during procedures in which attention must be paid to the patient's anatomy as well as a medical imaging device display. In an example, a surgical instrument assembly includes a processor, a surgical instrument configured to operate on an anatomical structure, and a display coupled to the processor and attached to the surgical instrument. The display can be configured to display visual information comprising X-ray images generated by a medical imaging device, and depth guage information generated by a depth gauge coupled to the surgical instrument.